Super Bowl LII: Predicting who takes home MVP hardware

With Super Bowl LII on the horizon this Sunday, Feb. 4, Niner Noise takes a stab at predicting who winds up with MVP accolades when the game is finished.

Becoming a Super Bowl MVP is a high honor. The Super Bowl is one of the biggest stages in the realm of sports. Few championships carry the same magnitude as the one that boasts the Vince Lombardi Trophy and a Justin Timberlake halftime show presented by Pepsi.

Nearly as important is who gets to take home the MVP hardware. Who will be declared the single best and most important player on the biggest night in sports this year?

Let’s take a look at a realistic option for MVP of Super Bowl LII.

San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

Historically speaking, there are two factors in naming an MVP that have remained consistent. First is that the winner is usually a quarterback. Seven out of the last 10 MVPs were quarterbacks. Second is that the MVP is usually on the winning team. In fact, the last time an MVP was named from the losing team was when linebacker Chuck Howley won the award after the Dallas Cowboys lost to the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl V.

Since this is a “for fun” article, we can have some fun. Most people believe the New England Patriots will win the Super Bowl. Why would they have any reason to think any different?

But I want to pick with my heart, and not with my brain. Truthfully, I believe that the Philadelphia Eagles have a real shot at beating the Patriots. They are hot at the right time and have a coach who is well equipped to lead a team to the promised land.

With that framework in mind, let’s pick our next Super Bowl MVP

This next part should be predictable if you read the previous paragraph. Let’s err on the side of history here and pick an MVP from the winning team who plays quarterback. Specifically, a quarterback who will actually play in the Super Bowl.

Nick Foles will be your 2017 Super Bowl MVP.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 21: Nick Foles #9 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates his fourth quarter touchdown pass against the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 21, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Who saw that one coming? Let’s dive in a little before totally excusing this prediction. The Eagles had another MVP candidate on their roster, Carson Wentz, before losing him to a heroic end-zone dive.

Here is where our hero enters the story. Foles was not stellar in his first few starts at the end of the regular season, nor was he great in the first round of the playoffs. But Foles stepped up to the plate against one of the top-ranked defenses in the league against the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship game. And in true Viking fashion, Foles “commandeered their ship and ran away with their booty.”

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Foles will have to play the game of his life to beat the Patriots. To beat Pats quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick, Foles will have to be perfect. Foles has thrown for nearly 600 yards and three touchdowns in the playoffs so far. A great game from Foles is not out of reach, and with a solid game plan from head coach Doug Pederson, he should be able to find some success against the Patriots.

So here it is — if the Eagles can beat the Patriots and bring Goliath to his knees, there will be only one player worthy of the MVP crown. Nick Foles will wear the MVP crown if the underdogs can once again come out on top.

Next: Ranking the top 5 individual Super Bowl performances in 49ers history

It’s time to bring home the hardware, Nick. Fly Eagles Fly!